truesdell



Feb. 7, 1956 L. c. TRUESDELL METERING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Oct. 24. 1950 LEONARD G. TRUESDELL Feb. 7, 1956 L. c. TRUESDELL 2,733,803

METERING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Oct. 24, 1950 LEONARD C. TRUESDELL INVENTOR.

I IS ATTORNEY METERING DEVICE Leonard C. Truesdell, Winnetka, Ill.

Original application October 24, 1956, Serial No. 191,868. Divided and this application October 22, 1952, Serial No. 316,236

6 Claims. (Cl. 194--9) This invention relates to metering devices and more particularly to coin-controlled metering devices for regulating the supply of electric current to an electrical appliance. This application is a division of copending application Serial No. 191,868, filed October 24, 1950, for Metering Device.

With the advent of large scale installment buying, the problems associated with installment payments have greatly increased, and numerous schemes have been evolved to render such payments as painless as possible and to reduce the carrying charges borne by the purchasers. One of the more popular of these schemes in volves the use of a coin-controlled device for metering the current supply to permit operation of the appliance from day to day so long as regular payments are made.

Thus, a consumer may purchase an electric refrigerator or a television receiver, for example, by making a small down payment and by inserting a predetermined sum, such as 25 a day, in a metering device which is installed with the appliance; if at any time the payments are allowed to lapse, the metering device operates to disconnect the appliance from the power source. The payment rate is established in accordance with the purchase contract to permit payment to be correlated With use by the purchaser; at the same time, the necessary paper work of the vendor is lessened so that carrying charges may be reduced.

Such coin-controlled metering devices as have been proposed, however, are subject to several limitations that are undesirable as a practical matter. In the first place, no convenient provision is made for insuring that back payments will be collected in the event that the applianceis allowed to stand idle for a period of several days. i This consideration is not particularly troublesome when such a metering device is used in connection with the sale of an appliance such as an electric refrigerator or the like which requires a continuous supply of electric current, a

but the problem becomes much more vexing in other cases, as for example in the sale of a television receiver or the like, where the appliance is operated only at the will of the consumer. Obviously, if payments proceed uninterrupted in accordance with a prearranged schedule, the carrying charges borne by the purchaser may be further reduced.

One of the problems encountered in the use of coincontrolled metering devices in installment purchase contracts is that of rendering the device immune from fraudulent operation; in other words, the meter must be so constructed as to render it impossible for a purchaser to manipulate it in such a fashion as to obtain a longer paid up period than that represented by the inserted coins. In my earlier Patent 2,347,526, I have described an electrical interlock system for disabling the metering device when thecoin bank is. removed for collection purposes. However, disabling the meter by removing the bank is incompatible withthe objective ,of insuring the collection of back payments. H

It is, therefore, 'a pri mary-object of the present invention to provide a new and improved coin-controlled meter:

nited States Patent "ice ing device in which fraudulent manipulation of the device is prevented without rendering the meter inoperative, so as to permit the meter to maintain a predetermined payment schedule without interruption by removing the coin bank.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood, however, by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals indicate like elements, and in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of an electric metering device constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3+3 of Figure 2, with certain parts also shown in dotted out line to indicate the operation of the device when the coin bank is removed;

Figures 4 and 5 are fragmentary views illustrating the operation of the device of Figures 1-3, and

Figure 6 is a view, partly cut away andpartly in section, of another portion of the device of Figure 1.

As illustrated in Figure 1, an electric metering device constructed in accordance with the invention comprises a normally closed electrical switch 10 provided with contact terminals 11 and 12 to be connected in series with one of the power-supply conductors to the electric refrigerator, television receiver, or other electrical applianceto which the metering device is temporarily and inconspicuously attached. The actuation of these terminals and the operation of the metered apparatus are under the control .of a switch-operating member 13, in the form of a disc having a peripheral projection 14, associated with switch 10. This switch may be of a well-known type arranged to be biased to its closed position by means of a spring 15 to which is attached an extension 16 having a portion 17 adapted to be engaged by projection 14 on a switchoperating member 13 during any operating interval in which the switch-operating member assumes a prede termined reference or home position (shown in Figure 1). Whenever projection 14 of switch-operating member 13 engages portion 17 of switch spring extension member 16, contacts 11 and 12 are separated, switch 10 is electrically opened, and the controlled apparatus is rendered inoperable.

Also included in the metering apparatus in an integrator 18, which may conveniently assume the form of a simple gear provided with peripheral teeth. As best shown in Figure 2, integrator 18 is coaxial with switch-operating member 13 and is friction-coupled thereto by means of a coil spring 19. Switch-operating member 13 is loosely supported on a bushing 26 to which integrating member 18 is fixed, and bushing 2il is rotatably mounted on a central shaft 21. A drive wheel 22 fixedly mounted at the opposite end of shaft 21 drives integrator 18 through a second bushing 23 slidably mounted on shaft 21, bushings 2t and 23 being maintained in axial frictional engagement with one another by means of a spring member 24 bearing on drive wheel 22. An electric clock motor 25, or other suitable timing mechanism, continuously rotates a geared shaft 26 which actuates drive Wheel 22 by means of an idler gear 27 and a second geared shaft 28. Idler gear 27 and geared shaft 28 constitute a reduction gearing system.

As previously stated and as illustrated in Figure 1, when projection 14 on switch-operating member 13 engages portion 17 of switch spring extension member 16, switch It is opened and no power is supplied to the appliance to which the metering device is attached. In order to aetuate'the switch-operating member anddisplaceit from wheel 31:mounted.on azshaft 32. An operating knob 33' fiiied to the:end of shaft 32 is then rotated one complete revolution, the coin being deposited at the end of onehalf revolution in a removablecoin receptacle or bank 34 to be. hereinafter described in greater: detail. As may best be seen from Figure 1, rotation of shaft 32 causes an eccentric cam 35 to rotate. Cam 35 engages a stud 36 on av cam-follower member 37 which is rotatably supported on bushing .23: A spring 38, encircling bushing23 and bearing outwardly against stops 100 and 101 mounted respectively on cam follower 37 and on an adjusting plate 50 to be described hereinaften bears on a washer 39 in order to permit stud 36- to follow the peripheral surfaceof cam 35 asthe cam is rotated. A pawl 40, pivotally secured to cam-follower member 37, is springbiasedinto slanted engagement with'the teeth on the periphery of integrator wheel 18 in such a manner that rotation of shaft 32 and cam 35 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1 actuates cam-follower member 37and pawl .48 to drive integrator wheel 18 a predetermined selected distance in *a clockwise direction; the slanted approach of pawl 40 to the teeth of integrator 18 and the spring-bias applied to pawl 44) insure disengagement of the pawl from the integrator during the return stroke.

The coin slot mechanism is best illustrated'in Figures 2 and 3, in which coin-receivingdisc 31 is shown rotatably mounted on shaft 32 between a pair of cover plates 70 and 71, the central portion of plate 70 being raised as shown by lines 68 and 69 to form a housing which accommodates disc 31. Coin-receiving disc 31 is normally maintained in the illustrated position with the coin-receiving slot 30 inregister with a chute 72 defined by the spacing of plates 70 and 71. To this end, clockwise rotation of shaft 32 (as shown in Figure 3) is prevented by means 'of' a pawl 73 (Figure 2) which engages a ratchet Wheel. 74- supported on shaft 32, although the ratchet and pawl do not arrest rotationin the opposite sense. Counterclockwise rotation of shaft 32 (as viewed in Figure 3) is normally, restrained by means 'of a spring member 75 of copper or other resilient material which issupported by cover plate 70 andnormally engages an edge'76 of coinreceivingslot 30. Whena coin is inserted into slot 30 through chute 72, spring'member 75 is forced upwardly from the plane ofthe drawing by the coin and disengages the edge 76 of slot 30, freeing coin wheel 31 for counterclockwise rotation.

As coin-receivingdisc 31 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction'from its normal position, slot 30 is brought into register with a'hole77 in cover plate 71; Hole 77 is smaller in diameter than the coin for which the meter is designed, and a second spring member 78is provided to eject coins of a size smaller than the required coin through hole 77. After rejection of an undersize coin, further counterclockwise rotation of coin-receivingdisc 31 may be effected only until the edge of spring 78 engages an edge of disc 31 adjacent coin-receiving slot. 30'. Moreover, the configuration of cam 35 is such that pawl 40 is not driven .to actuate integratorls until after coinreceiving disc 31 has advanced beyond this limiting position. In. this manner, the possibility of short-changing the meter by inserting undersize coins is obviated.

In order to permit coin-receiving disc 31 to be returned to its normal position after rejection of an undersize coin, a bevelled notch 67 is provided at the edge of slot 30 to lift spring 78 as disc 31 is rotated in a clockwise direction, and ratchet wheel 74 may be provided with a gap. or discontinuity in its peripheral teeth to permit clockwise rotation of the coin mechanism over the smallipartof a revolution. required to re-registerslot 30 with chute 72.

Ha coin of the proper size has been inserted, full counterclockwise rotation of thecoin wheel '31- is permitted.

'When the slot 30 becomes juxtaposed with the coin chute 79 of the bank or receptacle 34, the coin falls and is deposited into the bank, and the shaft 32 is rotated further in a counterclockwise direction until one full revolution has been completed. After one full revolution, spring again engages edge.76 of the now-empty coin slot 3t), so that further rotation of shaft 32 is precluded. A spring member 80 supported by cover plate70 is provided with a stud 81 extending between cover plate '70 and coinreceiving disc 31; stud 81 engagesan edge portion 82 of slot 39 at the moment a coin is deposited into the bank 34, in order to prevent the coin from being carried past chute 79 of bank 34 in theevent that the meter should be inserted or by rapid rotation of shaft 32 when the meter is an upright position. After the coin has been deposited in the bank, stud 81 is lifted by a bevelled notch 66 adjacent coin-receiving. slot'30' to permit further rotation of disc 31 to its normal position.

The coin receptacle orbank'34 is slidably'supported in the meter casing between a pair of channel members 46 and :7 and'is removable to permit the installment purchaser to present it to a.central collection station at agreed intervals, so that'it is unnecessary for collection to be made at the'home 'or other place where the meter is installed. Provision must'therefore. be made to prevent setting of the meter at times when the bank has been removed; otherwise, the consumer would be ableto provide for continuous operation by repeated insertion of a single coin whichcould be retrieved and reinserted after each rotation of the operating shaft32. To this end, coinreceiving disc 31 is provided with peripheral notches 83-86,' and a lockingib'ar 87 is. supported on a shaft 88 to be engagedby coin chute 79 of bank 34. Locking bar 87 is biased for counterclockwise rotation by means of a spring 89 in sucha way that, when bank 34 is withdrawn, a catch 90 formed on one'end 'of'the bar is urged into engagement with'notch33 to lock coin-receiving disc 31 against movement, as indicated. in dotted lines in Figure 3. Notches 8486 are-provided to prevent further rotation of coimreceivirig disc 31 if bank 34 should be removed after partial rotationof'shaft 32. On the other hand, when the bank 34 isproperly inserted, as shown in full lines,.chute.79 engages locking bar 87 and rotates it about shaft 38; releasing catch .90 to permit rotation of disc 31.

Provision is also .made to insure that continuous operation of the metered apparatus cannot be obtained by inserting a single coin and rotating shaft 32 only far enough to cause pawl 40' to engage the peripheral teeth of integrator wheel 18, thereby jamming, the meter in such a manner as to prevent integrator 18 from being driven in a counterclockwise direction by clock mechanism' 25. To this end, as best shown in Figure 1, a stud on cam 35 is arranged to engage amemb'er 96 which is slidablymounted on. the support plate by means of pins 97 and slotted holes'98; Member 96 is provided with a projection 99 adapted'to engage portion" of switch spring extension member 16whenever member 96 is permitted to move downwardly. Member 96 is biased in a downwarddirection by means of a compression spring 100 disposed between projection 99 and a spring support block 101. Whenever shaft 32 is rotated, stud 95 on cam 35 is moved outof engagement with member 96, and portion 99 is forced into engagement with switch spring extension 'member'1'6. Switch 10 is therebyopened'until stud 95: again engages member 96 at the end of one complete revolutionof shaft 32.

Switch-operatingmember 13! (Figure l) is provided with a peripheralnotch 41, and a locking spring 42 is supportedon a :bracket43 to engagenotch 41 and lock the switch-operating member in a predetermined position (as shown in. Figured) inrwhieh switch 10' is electrically open. A trippinggdevice-or--.spring l-iftings stud 44pmjects from integrator 18. Consequently, when integrator 18 is rotated in a clockwise direction in response to insertion of a coin in slot 30 and rotation of knob 33, stud 44 may engage locking spring 42, lifting it out of notch 41. and permitting the switch-operating member also to rotate in a clockwise direction. Clockwise rotation of switchoperating member 13 causes projection 14 to move out of engagement with portion 17 of switch spring extension member 16, permitting contacts 11 and 12 of switch to close, as shown in Figure 4. In this manner, electric power is supplied to the appliance connected to the metering device.

As has been previously mentioned, clock motor 25 drives wheel 22 in a counterclockwise direction at a predetermined constant speed. Since integrator 18 is friction-coupled to wheel 22 by means of bushings and 23 and spring member 24, and since switch-operating member 13 is friction-coupled to integrator 18 by means of compression spring 19, switch-operating member 13 is also rotated counterclockwise, until such time as projection 14 engages portion 17 of switch spring extension member 16, and locking spring 42 engages notch41, locking the switch-operating member in the switch-open position (Figure 1).

During the paid-up interval, switch contacts 11 and 12 are closed, and the appliance may be operated at will by the purchaser; at the expiration of the paid-up interval, the electric power is cut ofl? from the appliance, it is necessary for the consumer to insert one or more additional coins in the metering device to operate integrator 18 and switch-operating member 13 in the manner already described, thereby providing for a further period of operation. If the consumer neglects to insert additional coins in accordance with the prescribed schedule of installment payments, the metering device effectively registers the deficiency which must be made up before switch 10 can be closed to pen-nit a further supply of electric power as will now be explained.

In the event that the purchaser neglects to insert one or more coins after switch 10 is opened, integrating wheel 18 continues to be driven in a counterclockwise direction by clock mechanism 25, but switch-operating member 13 is restrained against further counterclockwise rotation by the engagement of locking spring 42 with notch 41. Such further counterclockwise rotation of the inetgrating wheel 18 is permitted by the friction-coupling between integrator 18 and switch-operating member 13. Thus, spring-lifting stud 44 is continuously rotated away from spring 42, as shown in Figure 5. When the purchaser desires to resume operation of the appliance, it is then necessary that a sutlicient number of coins be deposited in receptacle 34 to rotate integrator 18 in a clockwise direction until spring-lifting stud 44 engages locking spring 42;; during this rotation of integrator 18, switchoperating member 13 is prevented from rotating by virtue of the locking arrangement. After spring-lifting stud 44 has been brought into engagement with spring 42, the insertion of additional coins and rotation of shaft 32 causes stud 44 to lift spring 42 out of notch 41, permitting the friction-coupling between integrator 13 and switchoperating member 13 to become effective, and switchoperating member 13 is driven in a clockwise direction. Thus, projection 14 is moved out of engagement with portion 17 of switch spring extension member 16, and switch 10 is closed so that power is supplied to the appliance.

I It is apparent from the foregoing description and from the drawings that several coin-inserting cycles are required to effect a single complete revolution of integrator 18. In a preferred embodiment, clock motor 25 and its associated reduction gearing system are arranged to drive integrator 13 in a reverse direction at a speed of one revolution per week. One or more coins may be deposited at any time to extend the paid-up operating interval; however, care should be taken to avoid inserting a greater number of coins than that required toeffect one complete revolution of integrator 18 from the position indicated in Figure 1, since further payments not only will not further extend the operating interval, but will actually reduce its duration by nearly a week. To enable the purchaser to determine at a glance the amount of unexpired paid-up time remaining, switch-operating member 13 may be provided with suitable indicia viewable through a stationary window in the meter housing (not shown). Thus as shown in Figures 4 and 5, a convenient means of direct calibration may comprise inscriptions dividing the surface of switch-operating member 13 into seven equal sectors each of which is suitably marked to indicate the number of days remaining in the paid-up operating inter val when in register with the viewing window.

It is also apparent that the meter is only capable of registering payment-deficiencies of duration less than or equal to that represented by one complete revolution of the integrator, since spring-lifting stud 44 prevents further reverse rotation of integrator 18 by engaging locking spring 41. As a practical matter, however, paymentdeficiencies of more than a week are seldom encountered.

Provision is also made to permit ready adjustment of the duration of the operating interval for each coin deposited to any value within a predetermined continuous range. To this end, an adjusting plate 50 is rotatably mounted on shaft 21. An upturned portion 51 of adjusting plate 50 engages the radially extending portion of cam-following member 37 to which pawl 4-0 is afiixed.

A locking screw 52 is provided for securing plate 50 in any desired position.

When the adjusting plate 50 is locked in the position shown in Figure l, cam-following member 37 is biased into a predetermined space relation with respect to cam 35 by means of spring 38. In this position, the rotation of cam 35 over one complete revolution in a counterclockwise direction causes pawl lil to drive integrator 18 in. a clockwise direction for a distance determined by the proportion of the peripheral cam surface which engages cam-follower 37. If locking screw 52 is loosened and adjusting plate St) is rotated in a clockwise direction, the distance between cam-follower 37 and shaft 3.2 is increased; when a coin is inserted in slot 30 and shaft 32 is rotated one complete revolution, a smaller proportion of the peripheral surface of cam 35 engages cam-follower 37, so that pawl 40 is driven for a shorter distance. Thus, by providing for ready adjustment of the distance between shaft 32 and cam-follower 37, the metering device is adapted to preadjustment of the payment rate to any value within a continuous range. Adjusting plate 5i) may be calibrated, as indicated in Figure l, to indicate directly the number of coins required to effect one complete revolution of switch-operating member 13.

The construction of the coin receptacle or bank 34 is shown in Figure 6. Bank 34 includes an outer casing provided with a central partition 60 extending vertically of the receptacle and dividing it into two coin receiving portions. A closure member 61, located at the bottom of the receptacle 34, is provided with a pair of upwardlyextending resilient spring members 62 and 63 each provided with an offset upper end portion adaptedto overlap the upper end of partition 69, thus elfectively preventing access to the interior of the receptacle for the removal of coins by unauthorized persons not possessed of the proper key.

A simple key 64, comprising a central shank having a transverse metal plate 65 of generally rectangular shape, may be used to release closure member 61 from the body of the receptacle 34. The bank may be unlocked by merely inserting key 64 in the coin chute until transverse member 65 engages the upper end of partition 60 between spring members 62 and 63. counterclockwise rotation of the key, as viewed from the top end of the bank in Figure 6, for slightly more than one-quarter revolution forces the offset upper portions of resilient 7 springs Gland. 63 out of engagement-with the upperend of partition 60, permitting closure member-61 to be" with drawnfrom' the bottom of-the receptacle and providing ready access to the coins which have been deposited in the bank.

Thus, the presentin'vention provides a new and improved electricmetering device, particularly useful in the installment saleof electrical appliances such as electric refrigerators, television receivers, and the like. Provision is made to insure collection of back payments in the event that the purchaser neglects to insert coins regularly, and the paymentrate is readily adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of installment contracts. The coin receptacle is removable from the metering device, so that the carrying charges to the purchaser may be reduced by employing:a-centralized collection system. Moreover, a purchaser may insure continuous operation of the electrical appliance'throughout the interval during which the bank is removed, but the metering device may not be operated unless the bank is ina proper position to receive the coins.

It is apparent'that rectilinear elements may be employed as the switch-operating member and the integrator, although it is preferred for compactness and simplicity to employ rotational elements to perform these functions, in the manner shown and described in connection with the illustrated embodiment.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has 7 been shown and described, it is apparent that various changes and modifications may be made, and it is thereforecontemplated-in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A coin-controlled electric-power metering device comprising: a casing; a coin receptacle removably supported in said casing and provided with a coin chute; a movable coin-receiving member having a coin-receiving recess; means for moving said coin-receiving member in one direction along a path including a position in which said recess is in'register wth said chute to deposit a coin inserted in said recess into said receptacle; means for restraining said coin-receiving member against movementin a direction opposite to said one direction; and means responsive to removal of said receptacle for restraining said coin-receiving member against movement in said one direction.

2 A coin-controlled electric-power metering device comprising: a casing; a coin receptacle removably supported in said casing and provided with a coin chute; a rotatable coin-receiving member having a peripheral coin-receiving recess; means for rotating said coin-receiving member in one direction along a path including a position in which said recess is in register with said chute to deposit a coin inserted in said recess into said receptacle; and means responsive to removal of said receptacle for restraining said coin-receiving member against rotation in said one direction.

3. A coin-controlled electric-power metering device comprising: a casing; a coin receptacle removably supported in said casing and provided with a coin chute; a. rotatable coin-receiving disc having a coin-receiving recess andftutli'er havinga plurality of peripheral notches; means at least partly responsive to insertion of a'coin' in said recess for rotating. said coin-receivingidiscin one direction along a path including a position in which said recess is in register with said chute to deposit said coin into said receptacle; a locking device operatively associated with said receptacle; and means responsive to removal of said receptacle for causing said locking device to engage one of said notches to restrain said coin-receiving disc against rotation in said one direction.

4. A coin-controlled electric-power metering device comprising: a casing; a coin receptacle removably supported in said casing and provided'with a coin chute; a movable coin-receiving member having a coin-receiving recess; means for moving said coin-receiving member in one direction along a path including a position in which said recess is in register with said chute to deposit a coin inserted in said recess into said receptacle; and means responsive to removal of said receptacle for restraining said coin-receiving member against movement in said one direction.

5. A coin-controlled electric-power metering device for metering the flow of electric power to an associated electrical appliance, said device comprising: a casing; an electric power cord adapted for connection to a mains power source; a normally open switch connected in series with said power cord; coin-operated switch-operating means for actuating said switch to a closed-contact condition to supply electric power from said power source through said power cord andsaid switch to said appli ance for a predetermined time interval commensurate with the number and value of the coins inserted; a coin receptacle removably supported in said casing for receiving said coins; and means responsive to removal of said receptacle from said casing for preventing further actuation of said switch-operating means Without first replacing said receptacle in said casing while permitting operation of said appliance for the entire duration of said predetermined time interval.

6. A coin-controlled electric power metering device comprising: a casing; a switch in said casing for controlling an associated apparatus; a coin-controlled timing meter in said casing adapted for reception of a plurality of successively inserted coins for advancing said meter; 2. bank insertable into and removable from said casing and normally positioned therein for receiving from said meter coins inserted thereinto, said meter comprising means for closing said'switch in response to insertion of a coin and holding it closed independently of said bank and for a time period corresponding to the extent of advancement of said meter; and means responsive to removal ofsaid bank from said casing for preventing further advancement of said coin-controlled timing meter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

